MS Stella Maris

We want to ensure you make the correct choice before you book your holiday with us. If you have any concerns regarding the suitability of the holiday due to reduced mobility, we encourage you to contact us or call 01283 688 206 to discuss these concerns.

Accommodation

• The hotels we use have been chosen due to their location and standard, the facilities offered can differ, it is therefore important that we make the appropriate enquiries with our suppliers on your behalf to ensure any special needs or requests can be catered for.

Overseas Transport Arrangements

• All of our tours involve coach travel. The coaches we use have not been adapted for wheelchair access.

Air Travel

• We are able to arrange airport assistance for anyone with reduced mobility. This is a free service which must be arranged with the airline prior to travel. If you would like us to arrange this assistance for you it needs to be pre-booked more than 48 hours before your flight departs.

Eurostar

• If you have reduced mobility and are travelling on one of our Eurostar tours please contact us. Should you need to travel in your own wheelchair, Eurostar does have specially adapted wheelchair spaces which need to be pre-booked. If you would like assistance at St.Pancras we can make Eurostar Assist aware of this requirement, you would then need to make your way to the Eurostar Assist desk at St.Pancras at least 60 minutes prior to your departure.

Guided Tours

• We include guided tours, however due to the natural terrain of the locations we visit these may be a challenge for anyone with reduced mobility. We also sometimes use different modes of transport to complete our itinerary which includes though not limited to, boats, trains and jeeps these may also pose a challenge for anyone with reduced mobility.

River Cruises

• Our ships are not adapted for wheelchair access; if you are intending to take a wheelchair with you please contact us.
• Due to popularity of river cruising when there is more than one ship in port the ships could be moored alongside each other. If our ship happens to be moored away from the landing pier disembarking could involve walking across gang planks and the sun deck of other ships.
• River cruises operate with a smaller crew than ocean cruises and do not have the crew available to personally attend to passengers with reduced mobility therefore a travelling companion would need to be able to help with any physical needs.
• The itinerary we include with our river cruises involves shore excursions visiting places with cobbled streets which can be on an incline making navigation of these streets difficult for anyone with reduced mobility.
• Cruising down the Rhine, Danube or any of the European rivers we offer gives you the opportunity to take in the spectacular scenery and there is a lot to enjoy from the comfort of the ship. If you can’t do many shore excursions, river cruising in Europe can still be very enjoyable and worthwhile, please contact us with any concerns you may have.

Whilst the travelling schedule on our holidays shall impose no problems for people of any age in normal physical health, we should like to point out that we visit many historical sites and often enjoy walking tours of various places of interest. Some holidays, therefore, may not be suitable for clients of greatly impaired mobility. If you have greatly impaired mobility, then please contact us for further advice.

If you have a physical disability or are undergoing medical treatment that may affect your ability to do the tour, and which you have not already informed us about, you must let us know in writing now. For river cruising we will be able to advise you if the ship is equipped to meet your needs. If you do not inform us, the ship’s Captain may refuse passage, or your travel insurance may become invalid.

Although you will have obtained travel insurance, please also ensure that you have a valid UK Global Health Insurance Card. As previously with the EHIC, the GHIC entitles you to free or reduced cost emergency medical treatment during a temporary stay in European countries. Please note the GHIC is only valid in the 27 EU countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are not included). 

We provide complimentary Wi-Fi on board all our yachts, however, please note that signal can vary especially when cruising in open sea.

One of the biggest worries for first-time cruisers is what to pack for a river cruise. That’s easy, all you need is casual clothing that is comfortable and suitable for sightseeing and a few items that you can dress up for dinner – though there is no formal dress code at mealtimes. Layers are a good idea, as is a lightweight, water-resistant jacket. And remember to pack sunglasses, sun cream, and a sun hat. Some excursions will involve a visit to a place of worship or religious site where you’ll be expected to dress modestly. Shoulders and knees must be covered, so bring a shawl or light long-sleeved top to wear inside – zip-off trousers are also handy. Pack enough memory cards for your camera. It’s easy to take plenty of photographs while on a river cruise, especially when spectacular landscapes await around every bend and you join outstanding sightseeing tours. Don’t risk not being able to capture an awe-inspiring sight to show family and friends back home, and don’t rely on being able to purchase well-priced back-ups at your destinations. Excursions are unhurried, but if you have any mobility issues check with your tour manager about walking distances and the level of difficulty involved. If you’re following a tour guide and listening to their history lesson, a shooting stick with a seat may prove an invaluable item to have in your luggage.

Money Tips

Holidays are all about having a good time, not worrying over tipping etiquette. There are no compulsory gratuity add-ons with Riviera Travel river cruise – any thank you for excellent service is entirely at your discretion. If you do wish to tip the crew (and it’s worth knowing that tips are shared between staff), consider leaving €5 to €10 per day. Come prepared. Even if you’re on a European river cruise, not all the countries on your itinerary may accept the euro. For example, our Blue Danube river cruise stops in Budapest, as well as Vienna and Salzburg, so you’ll need Hungarian forints if you’re planning to buy at markets, cafés, and shops that won’t accept credit cards. Don’t expect an ATM or exchange facilities on your cruise ship. Your cruise manager, however, will be able to tell you the nearest place to change currency.

Food And Drink Tips

Drinks packages on board a river cruise can be good value – but it all depends on how much you wish to drink during lunch and dinner, and whether you’re happy with house wine and draught beer. Before making any commitment, do your sums, and remember that everyone travelling together must purchase the same package. Don’t worry about missing your favourite hot drink while you’re on a river cruise. All of our cabins have facilities for making tea and coffee and are stocked with well-loved brands.

There is no dress code.

Our yacht cruises are informal and relaxed, so casual and comfortable clothing is the order of the day. Shorts and beachwear are welcome during the day.

Whilst there’s no dress code for the evening, you may choose to opt for more smart/casual attire.

Due to limited space in the cabin, we recommend you pack lightly and use a soft case.

It is also advisable to bring sturdy walking shoes for sightseeing excursions and we also recommend bringing some clothes for possible cooler evenings (e.g. windbreaker, light jacket or similar).

There will be a small area designated outside for smoking that is away from general dining and entertaining areas.

• Cigarette butts must not be thrown into the sea.
• Smoking in cabins or in the restaurant area is not permitted.

As long as we have been given sufficient notice of any dietary requirements, these can normally be catered for on the ship.

Please note requests such as gluten or dairy free may involve limited alternative options depending what ingredients and food items can be sourced locally.

Drinking water is available on all our ships, as well as tea and coffee, during your stay on board.

Tea and coffee will be served at breakfast.

There will be self service facilities which guests can access during the day.

No other beverages are included, but each ship offers a well-stocked bar providing a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks including local specialities for purchase and consumption on board.

There is no official limit to the amount of luggage on the cruise.

You will be subject to the luggage allowance limitations according to your flight and airline.

It is recommended to travel fairly light, due to restricted storage space in ship cabins.

Croatia has changed its currency from Croatian Kuna to Euros since 1st January 2023. Therefore Euros will be accepted on board and ashore. Whilst some of our ships have credit card facilities, other vessels operate a cash only system. This will be detailed in your pre travel documents.

ATMs are available in most ports of call and your Tour Manager will be happy to direct you to the nearest one.